System for guiding a moldset into a molding machine

Abstract

A guiding system for guiding a moldset onto a molding machine. The guiding system includes guide grooves on each side of a core plate of the moldset and guide slots on a face of the machine. A slightly raised surface is provided in a top portion of the guide slots and a wedge shaped portion is provided at a base of the guide slots. The moldset is inserted into the machine by guiding the grooves into the guide slots. The slightly raised portion initially moves the core plate away from the face and the wedge shaped portion forces the core plate into firm contact with the face when the moldset is substantially loaded into the machine. The face may be a face of a movable platen or a face of a hot runner.

1. A guiding system for guiding a moldset onto a molding machine comprising:
 guide grooves on each side of a core plate of said moldset; 
 a guiding device on a face of said machine; 
 guide slots in said guiding device; 
 a slightly raised surface in a top portion of said guide slots; 
 a wedge shaped portion at a base of said guiding device; 
 wherein said moldset is inserted into said machine by guiding said grooves into said guide slots, said slightly raised portion initially moving said core plate away from said face and said wedge shaped portion forcing said core plate into firm contact with said face when said moldset is substantially loaded into said machine. 
 
     
     
       2. A guiding system as defined in  claim 1  wherein said face is a face of a movable platen. 
     
     
       3. A guiding system as defined in  claim 1  wherein said face is a face of a hot runner. 
     
     
       4. A guiding system as defined in any one of  claims 1 ,  2  or  3  further including a camming surface at a top end of said guide slots to move said core plate away from said face upon initial movement of said moldset during removal of said moldset from said machine. 
     
     
       5. A three level stack mold machine having readily interchangeable moldsets, each said moldset including a cavity plate and a core plate, said machine including two movable carriages,
 first guide devices on said carriages, 
 two hot runner assemblies including second guide devices, said second guide devices being constructed to cooperate with said first guide devices to guide and align each of said two hot runner assemblies onto one of said two movable carriages, 
 third guide devices on said two hot runner assemblies, and 
 fourth guide devices on each core plate, said fourth guide devices being constructed to cooperate with said third guide devices to guide and align a moldset onto each hot runner assembly on one of said carriages. 
 
     
     
       6. A three level stack mold as defined in  claim 5  further including a water manifold on each said carriage, each said manifold including water connections, each said hot runner assembly and core plate including water connections for cooperatively engaging said water connections on said manifold when said hot runner assemblies and core plates are mounted on said carriages. 
     
     
       7. A three level stack mold as defined in  claim 5  or  claim 6  wherein each said moldset includes a removable latch for retaining said cavity plates attached to said core plates when said moldset is not mounted in the machine.